microcosmz

The problem with electing people who have no understanding of their job responsibilities is evidenced with Ken Bennett. As Secretary of State he is responsible for all state elections - his office processes petitions with verifications of signatures to counting ballots. This is possibly one of the most unsung, behind the scenes, thankless jobs UNTIL you screw up. 

Ken Bennett screwed up and did so in a big, nationally televised way. Secretary of State Bennett made a threat to keep someones name off a national election ballot prior to thorough investigation of claims which in my mind is a negligent misuse of power. Pooh pooh you say? 

Ken Bennett is co-chair for the Election of Mitt Romney Campaign - I wouldn't call that being impartial especially for the elected office of Secretary of State, so goes impartial --- let's look at Fair.

Fair is a very tedious process that requires extra careful attention to detail - the detail of dotting the I's and crossing the T's. Making sure that everything is in line with state and federal laws etal.. A baseless threat without cause or evidence is a violation of trust and effectively puts into question FAIR. 

Unfortunetely Ken Bennett apparently tried to think for himself without the benefit of his handlers and this is the result. He apologizes? The jury is suppose to 'strike that comment from the record'? 

Secretary of State Bennett has now created DOUBT... I initially understood what his political affiliations were but historically Secretary of State's in AZ have managed to set aside those affiliations when it came to doing their jobs and have managed to stay away from controversy until after they moved away from the position of Secretary of State. Not so with Ken Bennett... 

To have Fair and Impartial elections is critical to the validity of any election - if the Election Judge is not impartial than problems are systemic. I want a new Election Judge that has no affiliations with either candidate and is willing to conduct themselves in a manner which is not an embarassement to me or my place of residence. I want to TRUST that the Elections in Arizona are Fair and Impartial and the results are viable. I don't think this will be the case in November because Ken Bennett decided not only to 'raise a question' but to use his power to 'threaten' the State of Arizona and it's election process.

I will be interested in the investigation details as they develop. 

So... the husband and I are waiting in line after a good day of Good Will hunting for props for photographs and we find out that you can return things (who knew?) and of course the line of people are angry so being the extrovert that I am I decide to chime in with "People are angry because everyone believes it's 'end of days' and the apocalpyse is nearing -- guess what? This isn't 'Supernatural' and anyway Sam and Dean already did that season!" -- this actually made people lighten up a bit - surprised? I was... 

With the ice broken (somewhat) people started talking - the guy behind us was an ex-cop from Detroit who was worried about his Union pension but then proceeded to blame President Obama for those worries and the woman with several things in her cart was talking about those people who stand outside with signs 'will work for food' who borrow other people's kids to help make their daily quota. Because I started this chatter I thought I would contribute with liberal tidbits of my own...

The guy begging on the street with a sign is a scam and IT is the 'American Way', he's making anywhere from $100 to $300 per day (not really sure but I thought it was a good guess) and how would that be different from say the guys on Wallstreet? Bankers? Well, the pay scale alone is quite different but look at it - most people ridicule unmercilessly the folks with the cardboard signs but idolize the deal brokers and all I can think is why? 

Short of their appearance they both are scam artists and where you might say that the deal broker is making an honest living and the card board folk are lazy I think you are wrong. They both are doing the same job - they both have hours they spend at work talking people out of their money. 

That is why I personally like street performers - big surprise - they do something physical for a living and they practice all the time, granted they are not always good but at least they are trying to earn what they receive from people. 

Back to end of days... I like horror stories, they are fun, they are in the Bible and other assorted stories that make for good old fashion trepidation late at night. But when you live constant fear and horror daily you will eventually go to the dark side - very gloomy - angry folk who have the feeling of absolutely no control because after all the apocalypse is pretty final. Lighten up a bit - reflect - meditate - calm down and let's get back some order here in Arizona. It's not a 'liberal socialist conspiracy to destroy the American Way (see above)', it's more like accountability, disclosure, and rooting out the scam artists, egotists, and self serving power mongers to attain something closer to the ideals of average Americans. 

No need to be angry Arizona - we are still the people.

 

Proposed Initiative:

When a state elected official (senate, house,executive) sponsors a bill and that bill passes into state law but is later found to be illegal per the US Constitution and Code of Federal Regulations (CFR's) the law will be immediately nullified and the state elected official who sponsored the bill will be immediately removed from office, pay all legal expenses incurred from litigation relating to bill and banned from holding any elected office for no less than 10 years. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a few words - You're fired. There isn't any job that allows for these types of major mistakes to go unchecked for such a long period of time. You don't have the authority to introduce bills that are a waste of taxpayer money and cause unnecessary litigation because of your ignorance of the law. You were elected to represent the people of Arizona and it's time you were held accountable. 

Back when suburbia was being created everyone saw these small neighborhoods coming up with names like Vista Meadows and Shalimar Park, these silly names were devised by housing developers to give you a sense of belonging somewhere a bit more substantial rather than a housing track which in reality is where you were purchasing a house. It was all about prestige nevermind that these communities were designed, marketed and sold with a singular intent and the bottom line. If you have watched any number of horror movies about houses they seem to always be built on some one elses land - I digress.... 

On a neighborhood level the template looks pretty good - increased property values etal... so why wouldn't you want to step up on the status ladder... BUT... what happens when a template is designed for the purpose of uniformity and predicability? 

Demographics changes - actually the whole field of demographics becomes a lot easier if state laws are written to predetermine an outcome in almost any type of marketing. From campaign to test products, the ease in which a company can manipulate the outcome is awe inspiring. So, take that another step - what if several states had the same state laws - on a conspiracy level why seperate those states if they all have the same laws - you now have a block of states which could actually be called a National Chain.

I don't know if the media understood what they were doing when they started turning states into red states and blue states during elections but the effect  was to simplify the map or use it as a template for ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council). 

A template by definition : something that establishes or serves as a pattern - Imagine the possiblities of owning a state template. 

Maybe this was the natural progression of the type of mentality we have adopted as Americans - easy button government. 

Resist Alec and make your state representatives serve your local community.

How does someone introduce legislation - ever ask yourself how that process works? I have and I have discovered that it's quite difficult for an individual. A few years ago I determined that corporate money needs to be removed from Federal and State Governments - apparently I wasn't alone. With the 2010 Governors onslaught it became even more apparent whilst watching the money being poured into the RGA (Republican Governors Association) and than the agenda post elections. Personally, I think they could have been a bit more circumspect but they chose to take action in tandem, a show of force I suppose. How do people initiate Campaign Finance Reform while the beneficiaries are in office? It's a bit self perpetuating - you donate money to a candidate who is willing to fight for 'CFR' who has now taken money to be able to win and fight for a cause that is not in their best 'personal' interest. Hmmm....

We've spiraled into a Twilight Zone episode...

How are we to expect our currently elected representatives to initiate real campaign finance reform when their very jobs depends on money they will get to run a campaign and that money comes from well, special interest groups, PACS, C4 PACS and groups to numerous to list.  

My first idea: 

Limit campaign spending to a year salary of the office they are running for and give them 9 months to make their case. 

Doesn't really resolve the campaign donation issues - just limits how much they can spend. So, technically it would still be very easy for a benefactor to purchase a legislator - just cheaper.

Why is it so easy to buy a representative - everything is already outlined for them. Just introduce the model laws and we will do the rest...

...- it's good to have enough money to buy state legislator­s - pretty lazy lawmakers when they have Washington think tanks write their state laws.

The GOP are representi­ng their constituen­ts - somewhat obligated aren't they since they were paid fair and square to give their donors their monies worth. You want representa­tion? Form a PAC or non-profit 'think tank' and write laws for State and Federal legislator­s to introduce laws on your behalf. I'm thinking the Senate/Hou­se need a pay deduction since they stopped writing legislatio­n - introducin­g laws is far different from writing them.

I think it explains all too well how the State of Arizona ended up with a Governor Brewer but it could be said of Dems as well. 

I was thinking that it isn't such a good idea to fight fire with fire - sometimes water works and for electrical fires use foam. The money in politcs has to be have a cap and frankly there will be no legislation in the near future to address the issue so how can a candidate expect to win without financing? 

My candidate has more money than your candidate so that is an automatic validation that my candidate is better than yours - more people are willing to buy mine. In essence I have a better product because 8 of 10 campaign PACS are willing to donate to mine. 

Could it be a mindset? You will only believe what you hear on the radio, tube, internet that validates what you have already been told? 

Back to my first idea - why not elaborate on limiting spending of a candidate to the year salary of the office they are running for? Let's say that we also put into effect some of the model legislation from Great Britain and take Campaign Finance Reform to the next level - action.

Representation of the People Act of 1983 - Sections 72 to 90 control the total election expenses that can be spent on behalf of a candidate.

During the time limit of the election, all money spent on the promotion of a candidate must be authorized by his election agent. This includes the cost of holding public meetings, organising public displays, issuing advertisements, circulars, or otherwise presenting the candidate's views and the extent or nature of his backing or disparaging another candidate. It does not include travel expenses from home or similar personal expenses.

The expenses limit for the campaign (which is enforceable due to it all having to be authorized by one person) is £100,000 for a parliamentary by-election, but is approximately £5,483 plus either 6.2p or 4.6p for every registered voter in the district.

 

Reminder - every conflict must have an exit strategy... 

 

 

Ugly, unethical realities have been baltantly shoved in our face like a banner of pride because after all "IT IS WHAT IT IS" - You know what IT is? Has anyone bothered to define IT? Is IT in a Wiki FAQ? Google IT? 

IT is complacency - a simple whatever, oh well, nothing I can do acceptance to anything and everything that comes down from the 'decision makers' who must know more than average Americans because... wait, it will come to me.  

I thought about listing everything that has occured over the last few years but frankly there are only a few that should have given everyone a bit of a jolt, a wake up call, a red flag enough to say "Wait a minute, that's just crazy 'Put Edwina back in the bowl'!"

Back in the Shock and Awe election of 2010 the GOP waged a war strategy upon the American public - worse than a little mind control - the strategy was intended to draw out their base but it did something much more - it drew out crazy accusations (did you listen to what they were saying?) and apparently every governor was running against President Obama. 

A little attention deficit disorder or short memory span hitting you about now? Did you know that President Obama was a socialist, compared to hitler, fascist, democracy hating, muslim who had a forged birth certificate that apparently was created in Hawaii in 1961? 

Well, that certainly is what it is...

How about ALEC model legislation for the states brought to you by your friends who hate Washington DC politics but just so happen to live in Washington DC and are funded by Democracy loving Corporate individuals who have no problem outsourcing their jobs overseas. Your elected Local Government Legislators who just so happen to be card carrying members of ALEC conveniently 'borrow' and change a word or two to enable laws that have nothing to do with your community.

IT IS WHAT IS!

It's quite alright and well legally binding for certain, shall we say body cells of the corporate individual to have contracts but when it comes to average collective bargaining for workers it's wrong! The disparity will be realized when only an indivdual can have a contract that is legally binding. It's not that anyone wants to deny you personally a contract, we just don't think you should have a group contract - way to socialist don't you think? 

IT is not good

And then there is Illegal Immigration - the cause that has everyone raving that 'they' will bring their crime to our doorsteps and no one will be safe inside their home. We must irradicate 'them', incarcerate them for they are criminals taking our jobs, our subsidized healthcare, our free education, they are CRIMINALS and MUST BE INCARCERATED and then returned and we have to do it on a STATE level.... really? BEDS BABY BEDS and so the need to contract private prisons and stock those private prisons with lawbreaking CRIMINALS - We need more laws just so we can turn a profit for our stockholders. 

Complacency rules - so take another pill and be sure to anesthetize the kids - fasten your seatbelts because I don't think we've seen half of the ugly...

 

I was reminded today of something I hadn't really thought of to date. Maximillian, Napolean III, defaulting on debt and Cinco de Mayo. Does anyone really understand the consequences of defaulting on debt? In 1861 Mexico declared that they would default on their national debt (a debt they accrued way back when they declared their independence from Spain).  Unlike a debtors prison or a debt ceiling cap - Mexico was invaded by France, England and Spain coalition forces (the countries that Mexico owed money to). England and Spain settled with Mexico taking a loss while France wanted the entire amount owed them. So, they proceeded to take over. Granted this occured back when invading a country for money owed was the norm. 

Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) the day when rebel forces were victorious over the French military in the Battle of Puebla and is actually considered a regional holiday for more go to Cinco de Mayo. 

With everyone yelling DEFAULT, DEFAULT has anyone really thought about the consequences of defaulting on a national debt? I seriousely doubt we would be invaded in a militaristic style but I do believe our government would be visited by 'International Advisors'. Would these advisors instruct our national government about monetary matters? I think so and would our government have to comply with their advice? Most likely. Will Greece be compelled to comply with 'International Advisors'? I'm sure. The IMF will not allow the USA to default on debt - we will all pay a heavy price.

To this end, this lowly, unrepresented American living in the Repressive State of AZ suggests that yelling DEFAULT isn't in the general interest of average Americans. I also submit that penalizing the poorest people in this country 98% while allowing the top 2% to continue to go unscathed is a formula that hasn't worked throughout history. There IS power in numbers. 

I feel like I live in a national chain restaurant - State Arizona by the makers of State Laws - copyright by ALEC - 'the people who know what you need in your community'. 

Where I have been so very dismayed in the past at the lack of actual writing Legislators do I really didn't have much of a problem with mirroring what other states try. What I do have a problem with and will continue to have a problem with is a Washington DC purchased Think Tank organization like ALEC writing Arizona State Laws. In These Times author Beau Hodai has been kind enough to research ALEC in Publicopoly Exposed - MUST READ article.  Nothing is what it appears to be - 

Okay... Now that we have established that our state government is being run by a couple of think tanks in Washington one has to wonder who put the cap on the bottle. Where I am surprised that Gov. Brewer vetoed the 'birther' bill and the 'guns on campus' bill I'm baffled as to why?

Politcal expediency? Yes there is a recall petition, yes it's getting signatures, yes AZ has a history of recalling and impeaching Governors (specifically GOP governors) and yes the AZLEG as the power to (2/3 majority vote) upend her veto. So...

she wants to remain Governor or did Senate President Pierce push the bar to low? Did ALEC and the RGA push to hard/fast for their agenda or was a cease fire called. Hmmm... seems there maybe a shift in strategy. From where I'm sitting it would be nice if someone (preferably in a leadership role) stood up to these organizations (think tank corporate individuals) and said "Wait! AZ can't be the GOP's test dummy all the time - you will have to use other states too, y'all are killing our economy!" but that's just wishful thinking.

No, something else has occured behind the curtains - somewhat wondering what that could be... Chamber of Commerce maybe, businesses saying 'stop it you fools, you are making us look really bad.' I don't think that's it... no, let's get back to the RECALL PETITIONS and how Governor Brewer and her lackeys (possibly vice versa) have managed to take an already bad economy from 2008 and stretch the outcome. 

I'm thinking Ohio, Georgia and Florida should take over for awhile and give the people of Arizona a break - summer's on it's way and folks here don't really like being agitated in the summer.